As part of strengthening Ecumenical relations, the General Secretary of the Bible Society in the Gulf Dr. Hrayr Jebejian, visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

During the meeting, both sides held a discussion focusing on the general situation in the Middle East and the key challenges that the people of the region are facing. They also discussed the activities of the Bible Society in the Gulf and its various programs, as well as its relationship with the Middle East Council of Churches and ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides.

In this context, Dr. Hrayr Jebejian invited Professor Michel Abs to participate in an upcoming meeting with the Churches of the Gulf.

Chanted by the Seminarians of Saint Paul’ Seminary Harissa, Lebanon

Video - A Reflection by Reverend Rifaat Fikry, MECC Associate Secretary General

Basilica of Saint Paul, Harissa – Lebanon

Produced By MECC

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics.

Under the Theme "Living Water"

His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati, Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of

Churches (MECC), presented his book, “We Remain in Hope…”, to the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, and colleagues.

Issued by Naaman Publishing House for Culture, the book is a new addition to Archbishop Marayati’s intellectual and spiritual works. Its pages offer reflections on hope in human life and the Christian faith.

The Secretary General Professor Michel Abs expressed his appreciation for this initiative, wishing His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati many years filled with goodness, blessings, and holiness in service to the Church and humanity, as well as intellectual production.

Under the Theme “Living Water”

Beirut – Sunday, September 6, 2026

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) inaugurated the Season of Creation 2026 in Lebanon on the evening of Sunday, September 6, at the National Evangelical Church in Beirut, through an Ecumenical Prayer Service held under this year’s theme, “Living Water.” The Service brought together representatives of various Church Families in an encounter of Prayer, fellowship, and reflection on the gift of water and humanity’s responsibility to care for creation.

The celebration was attended by Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and MECC President for the Evangelical Family, and the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, along with Bishops, Priests, Pastors, Monks and Nuns, Representatives of Churches, organizations and youth movements, as well as many believers.

The Prayer Service included hymns performed by choirs and chanters from different Christian traditions: the Laudato Si’ Choir with Subdeacon Charbel Bou Machrek Chanter Deacon Ghazar Koushkrian, accompanied on the piano by Hampik Marderosian, a choir from the National Evangelical Church’s youth, and the St. Theophan the Hymnographer Choir. Together, they presented a rich musical tapestry reflecting the diversity of Christian traditions in the unity of Prayer and praise.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) concluded the Ecumenical Youth Camp in Lebanon, organized as part of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Program, in cooperation with the Bible Society, Ithraa’ Center, and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with the support of Kerk in Actie. The camp brought together young men and women from various Christian Church Families.

The fourth and final days of the camp featured a diverse program combining learning and interaction, along with opportunities for participants to express their talents and exchange experiences.

With great hope, the third day of the Ecumenical Youth Camp in Lebanon was held as part of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Program, organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Bible Society, Ithraa’ Center, and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with the support of Kerk in Actie. The camp brought together young men and women from various Christian Church Families.

The third day of the camp had a spiritual, training, and interactive atmosphere. The program included times of Prayer and reflection, providing a spiritual foundation for the various themes addressed throughout the day.

The young participants also took part in a training session led by Mr. Naji Fakhoury from the Bible Society, in which he presented many topics related to leadership, its importance, and ways of strengthening leadership skills. In addition, a Bible study session was led by Pastor Asadour Mncherian, providing an opportunity for dialogue and deeper reflection on the Word of God, as well as connecting the Biblical text and its teachings to everyday life. The program also included a personal testimony, during which one of the leaders shared his story and personal experience.

And Celebrates the "Season of Creation” During this Month

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of September 2026. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical Feasts of the various Families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission.

As well as, MECC celebrates the “Season of Creation” between September 1 and October 4, bearing this year the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12.

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has maintained a longstanding commitment to the Palestinian people, rooted in the history of the ecumenical movement in the Middle East. This relationship predates the formal establishment of the MECC in 1974 and began through Christian churches and ecumenical organizations responding to Palestinian displacement following the Nakba.

For the MECC, the Palestinian cause is therefore not an external political issue but part of its historical memory, pastoral responsibility, humanitarian mission, and Christian witness. Its engagement has developed through three interconnected dimensions: service, advocacy, and awareness building.

Humanitarian service began through church-related committees assisting displaced Palestinian communities in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank, Nazareth, Amman, and Beirut. These initiatives eventually developed into the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), which continues its work today with autonomy. During the Lebanese war, MECC-related programs provided assistance to Palestinians in refugee camps while also responding to the suffering of Lebanese communities. Over time, the Council's humanitarian mission expanded to other displaced populations, including Iraqis and Syrians, while Palestine remained a central concern…

The MECC Media Team Honored by His Beatitude

At the invitation of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family, and in the presence of the Lebanese First Lady Mrs. Nehmat Aoun, and His Excellency the Lebanese Minister of Information Lawyer Dr. Paul Morcos, a dinner was held in honor of the Lebanese media, in recognition of journalists’ efforts and their humanitarian mission in serving people and society.

The dinner took place on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Achrafieh, Geitawi, Lebanon.

The gathering was attended by many official, cultural, and social personnalities, as well as the Media Team of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), including the Coordinator of Media and Church Media Relations Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Social Media Officer Johnny Anton, Communication and Media Officer Elia Nasrallah, and Documentation Officer Charbel Bastoury who was among the organizers of the event. Attendees were also journalists and representatives of media institutions.

The activities of the second day of the Ecumenical youth camp in Lebanon continued as part of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Program, organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Bible Society, Ithraa’ Center, and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with the support of Kerk in Actie. The camp brought together young men and women from various Christian Church Families.

The second day’s program included group and individual Prayers and reflections, as well as interactive games. It also featured a training session on leadership and its concepts, led by Mrs. Rita Zakhour from the Bible Society. In addition, Pastor Asadour Mncherian delivered a session on leadership from a Biblical perspective. Participants also took part in a session during which they listened to a personal life testimony highlighting the importance of leadership and its impact.

It is worth noting that the second day was attended by the Secretary General and Executive Director of the Bible Society Dr. Mike Bassous, and the Regional Secretary of the World Student Christian Federation Ms. Melissa Bridi.

مرصد فلسطين – تقرير الجمعة 4 أيلول/ سبتمبر 2026

In light of the worsening humanitarian and social conditions in the region due to the escalation of security operations, the Middle East Council of Churches presents a weekly report entitled "Palestine Observatory," which includes the latest developments in Palestine, especially amid the deteriorating living, social, and security conditions in the country. Some texts will be in Arabic, and some others in English, depending on the source.

في ظلّ تفاقم الظروف الإنسانيّة والاجتماعيّة في المنطقة جرّاء تصاعد العمليّات الأمنيّة فيها، يقدّم مجلس كنائس الشرق الأوسط تقريرًا أسبوعيًّا بعنوان "مرصد فلسطين" حيث يتضمّن آخر المستجدّات الّتي تشهدها فلسطين خصوصًا وسط تدهور الظروف المعيشيّة والاجتماعيّة والأمنيّة في البلاد. ستكون بعض النصوص باللغة العربية، وبعضها الآخر باللّغة الإنكليزيّة، وذلك حسب المصدر.

The first day of the Ecumenical Youth Camp in Lebanon, organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) as part of its Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Program, took place, bringing together a group of youth from various Church Families.

The program is implemented in cooperation with the Bible Society, Ithraa’ Center, and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with the support of Kerk in Actie.

The day began with the arrival of participants, introductions, and a welcome, followed by an overview of the camp’s rules and teams’ organization. The program also included several icebreaker activities and team building games designed to help participants get to know one another, contributing to stronger communication and cooperation among the youth.